The website (www.dipex.org/hiv) allows people to watch video clips and listen to real patients as they talk about their experience of living with HIV. It has been developed by City University London, working with the DIPEx charity; Homerton University Hospital; the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research at UCL; Camden PCT; Oxford University and a number of community organisations.

To create the HIV website researchers at City University interviewed 50 people living with HIV from around the UK. The sample reflects the diversity of the HIV patient population in the UK and includes gay men as well as people from African communities.

Dr Damien Ridge, an experienced qualitative researcher conducted the interviews which explored the participants’ experience of HIV infection including their diagnosis, use of services, disclosure of their HIV status, stigma and discrimination

Their accounts are freely available as video and audio “clips” 24-hours a day on the new HIV website (ww.dipex.org/hiv). These are supported by explanatory text, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ), as well as signposts to support groups and other resources.

Professor Jonathan Elford, of City University, who led the research said: “HIV remains a highly stigmatised illness despite treatment advances. In 2005, there were over 7000 new diagnoses of HIV in the UK. Not surprisingly people with HIV often feel anxious and can be afraid of asking professionals and support groups for help".

“Being able to hear the stories of other people with HIV on the Internet can give hope, a sense of not being alone, and provide helpful advice. These first hand accounts will also give relatives, friends and health care professionals – as well as the wider public – a better understanding of what people with HIV go through.”

City University’s St Bartholomew School of Nursing & Midwifery funded the study with additional support from the Department of Health, Gaydar and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

To develop the website the researchers worked with the following community groups and organisations: African HIV Research Forum, African HIV Policy Network, Black Health Agency Manchester, George House Trust Manchester, UK Coalition of People Living with HIV & AIDS, Terrence Higgins Trust, London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, Manchester Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Action on Gay Men's Health, Gaydar and Gay.com.